Ignition apparatus



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Oct. 4, 1938.,

J. l... ARTHUR IGNITION APPARATUS Filed March 14, 1936 ENG/NE INTAKE 107 v mo 10.6. r08 96 74a 85 me 104 a 94 99 7 M 73 6 7/ 8 H I as 1 I da. O Q U "-91 76 I I5 I03 INVENTOR James LArZ/zu 7* BY MJW Y M A; ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 4,' 1938 IGNITION arrana'rus James L. Arthur, Anderson, Ind., assignor to Gen- I eral Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich a corporation of Delaware Application March 14, 1936, Serial No. 68,81ii

3 Claims. (c1. 137-139) This invention relates to ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines and more particularly to the types of apparatus disclosed in my Patent No. 1,761,513, issued June 3, 1930.

a That patent discloses an automatic ignition controller which adjusts the timing oLthe ignition in accordance with suction produced by the engine. As the suction increases the spark is advanced and is retarded as the suction de- 10 creases. In order to take care of engine idling conditions when the throttle valve is practically closed and the suction in the manifold is high, an automatic valve is used to cut off communication between the engine intake and the suclfl tion controller during idling so that the spark will not be advanced during idling. This valve is controlled electromagnetically in response to the voltage of a generator which is driven by the internal combustion engine. When a predeter- 20 mined voltage is attained corresponding to a predetermined engine speed this valve is automatically opened in order to place the suction controller in communication with the engine intake so that the spark timing will be immedi- 25 ately advanced.

The present invention relates more particularly to improvements in the automatic valve of my Patent No. 1,761,513. The chief object of the present invention is to provide an electromag- 80 netically operated valve for use in an engine suction controlled ignition system with means for so adjusting the electromagnetic device which operates the valve that the valve will place the suction controller in communication with the 36 engine intake at different voltages of the generator driven by the engine, and hence at different engine speeds.' The chief advantage of this construction is to permit the use of the same valve with a number of difierent types of en- 40 gines. By the use of the present invention the valve can be adjusted so as to take care of varying engine conditions. Some engines require higher idling speed than others. Engines which operate with a relative low engine idling speed 45 require that the valve open at a relatively low speed and hence atrelatively low generator voltage. For use with such engines the electromagnet device would be adjusted so as to place the engine intake in communication with the suc- 50 tion controller at relatively low generator voltage. 011 the other hand engines which would operate better at higher idling speed would require that the electromagnetic device be adjusted so that the valve opens at a higher generator e5 voltage and engine speed.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing 'wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown. 5

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of an ignition circuit into which the present invention, may be connected.

' Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the suction control valve and showing the valve in its open position.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the valve looking in the direction of arrow 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, designates a man- 16 ifold of an internal combustion engine. By sultable gearing, not shown, the engine drives a shaft 2| which in turn drives a rotor 22 of a distributor 23 and a cam 24 of an ignition timer 25. ,A generator 30 is also driven by the en- 20 gine in the known manner. The generator 30 is shown diagrammatically and comprises a field .winding 3! having one end connected to a main brush 32 and the other end to third or regulating brush 33. The other main brush 34 of the generator is connected by a wire 35 which is connected to a cut-out relay 36. The cut-out relay 36 is of the standard type and is adapted to permit current to flow therethrough in one direction only and in this instance the cut-out relay permits the current to flow from the generator brush 34', wire through the cut-out relay 36, wire 31 into a storage battery 38 to ground 39. The brush 32 of the generator is grounded as at 40. 35

The timer 25 comprises a movable arm 4| pivotally supported on a pivot 42- and having a. rubbing block 43 engageable with the cam 24.

A spring 44 urges the arm 41 toward the cam 24. A contact 45 is carried by the arm 4| and is adapted to engage a stationary contact 46 which is grounded, as at 4'1.v

The ignition coil 50 includes a primary winding 5| and a secondary winding 52. One end of the primary winding 5| is connected to the spring 44 of the circuit interrupter arm 4] through wire 53. The other end of the winding Si is connected through a switch 54 to the bat-' tery 38, and during engine operation to the generator ,30. The secondary winding 52 has one endconnected to the primary winding 5| and the other end is connected through a wire 55 to g a high tension terminal 58 of the distributor 23. The terminal 56 is connected in proper sequence 55 by the rotor 22 to the various terminals leading to the spark plugs of the engine.

The circuit interrupter or timer 25 may be rotated to vary the angular relation of the rubbing block carried by the arm 89 relative to the cam 24 whereby the sparking impulses are retarded or advanced. The cam is rotated in the present instance in the direction of the arrow. If the ignition timer is rotated in a counterclockwise rotation, as viewed from the drawing, the time of the spark impulses will be retarded. When the timer is rotated in a clockwise rotation or in the direction of the arrow the spark impulses will be advanced. The timer housing 25 is provided with an arm 88 to which is attached one end of a rod or bar 6|. The other end of the rod 8i is attached to central portion of a flexible diaphragm 82 of a a suction actuated device 85.

The device 65 comprises housing members 66 and 61 between which the peripheral edge of the diaphragm 82 is clamped. As shown, the housing member 61 is provided with a flange which is bent over the peripheral edge of the housing member 66. The housing member 67 carries a threaded bushing 68 to which it attached a cap 69 providing a seat for a disc 18 having a small aperture II. The disc 18 provides a seat for one end of a spring 72, the other end of the spring is received by a cup washer 13 carried by the diaphragm. The spring operates to urge the diaphragm to the left, as viewed in the drawing, to normally hold the ignition timer in a retarded position. The cap 69 receives one end of a conduit 14, the other end of the conduit 14 is connected with a valve body 75. A conduit 14a has one end thereof connected with the body 15 while the other end of the conduit a is connected to the engine intake manifold 28.

The valve body 15 is supported on a base I8. This is accomplished by rivets TI passing through apertured ears 18, which may be formed integral with the body, and pinned over against the underside of the base 16 as shown at 19 in Fig. 3. The body I is provided with a through passage 88. The passage 88 is counterbored as at 8| to form a shoulder. This shoulder is countersunk to form an upper seat 82 for a ball valve 83. The passage. is further reduced, as at 84, to form a guide for a pin 85. The end of the passage 88 having the larger dimension is threaded to re-' ceive a tubular plug 86 having a reduced portion 86a. The end of the reduced portion 88a is countersunk at 82a to form a lower seat for the valve 83. This plug is counterbored, asat 81, to form a shoulder against which is placed an apertured disc 88. The discis held in place by spinning bver a portion of the plug as at 88. En-. closed within the plug 89 is a coil spring 98 having one end bearing against the disc 88, the other end or the spring bears against a headed pin 8|. A shank 92 of the pin extends through a restricted portion 93 The spring normally urges the ball 83 against the seat 8|. As plug 88 is screw-threadedinto the bore 88 the spring '98 will cause the pin 8| to urge.

the ball valve against the upper valve seat 8|. The body is passages 94 and 95. The passage 84 is suitably connected with the conduit Ila while the passage 85 is suitably connected with the conduit 14. When the ball valve 83 is yieldably held against the seat 8| by the spring 98, as shown .in Fig. 1, the ball 83 shuts 08? communication between the passages 84 and 95. When the ball valve is in this position or the normally closed position pasprovided by the tubular plug 86.

also provided with transverse I areaoea sage 98 is connected directly with the intake manifold, while passage 85 is connected with the suction chamber 96 of the device 85. The opening 88a in the washer or disc 88 provides a bleeder which permits pressures within the suction actuating device 85 to return to atmospheric pressure when the ball valve 83 is urged against the seat 82 by the spring 98 to close the passage 98.

, The present invention provides electromagnetic means 88 for actuating the ball valve 83 so as to connect the partial vacuum created in the intake manifold with the suction actuated device 85 in order to advance the sparking impulses. The electromagnetic means is suitably supported on the base 16 and includes a core I 88 that is magnetically associatedwith an "armature MI. The armature is suitably supported as at N2 and is normally biased away from the core by a leaf spring 983 riveted to the armature as at N14. The

leaf spring rests upon an adjustable abutment member I85 integral with the member I86 held in position by the head of the core I88. 'The abutment member I85 cooperates with the spring to normally hold the armature in a raised position. The abutment member 985 may be adjusted so as to increase or decrease the tension of the spring I 83. By bending the abutment member M5 to the right, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, the tension of the spring is increased, and by bending the abutment member I85 to the left the tension of the spring I 83 is decreased. Increasing the tension in spring I 83 increases the amount of magnetic flux of the magnet required to pull the armature I8I down to open the valve and decreasing the tension in spring I83 has the opposite effect. Since magnetic flux is dependent upon current flowing in the magnet coil, and since current depends on voltage of the generator, and voltage on speed of the generator, it is apparent by adjusting the spring I83 one may set the valve so as to cut in the suction control of ignition timing when the generator, and hence 'the engine which drives it, has attained a certain speed. The member I86 is also provided with an adjustable stop I81 having an offset portion I88 to receive an extension I89 of the armature, as best seen in Fig. 3. The offset portion I88 limits the upward movement of the armature with respect to the core I 88 due to the tension of the spring I83. The member I86 can be bentto change the air gap between the core I88 and the armature 'I8I. To increase the air gap between .for the ignition timer at a higher or lower engine speed as desired.

The operation of the present invention is as follows: When the engine is not operating, the circuit interrupter or ignition timer 25 will be -maintained in full spark retarding position by the spring 12 enclosed within the suction actuated device 85. When the engine starts it will drive the generator 38 to provide current to charge the battery 38. The valve 83 will maintain .the passage closed and prevent suction from being exerted upon the diaphragm 62 of the suction actuation device 65 until the voltage of the generator 30 has attained a predetermined value to operate the electromagnet 99, at which time current will flow through the wire 35 and through the wire H0, which is properly connected with the electromagnet 99, and caused the electromagnet to become energized to draw the armature ll toward the core I00 against the tension of the spring I93. When the armature is moved toward the core, the end I09 of the armature will urge the pin 85 downwardly to move the ball 83 from the seat 82 against the effect of spring 99 against the valve seat 82a and thus the manifold of the engine communicates with the suction chamber 96 of the device 65in the following manner: conduit 14a, passages 94, 80, 95 and conduit 14. When this occurs the diaphragm 62 will be drawn to the right as viewed in Fig. 1, exerting a pull upon the rod Bl to rotate the timer 24 in a clockwise direction, to advance the time of sparking impulse.

When the engine is idling or when theengine is not operating the generator sufficiently fast to build up enough voltage to operate the electromagnet 99 the armature will be returned to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 1, by the spring I03 and the spring 99 will urge the pin 9| upwardly to move the ball valve 83 against the upper valve seat 82 to close the passage 94 and connect the chamber 96 with air through the opening 88a. When this occurs the diaphragm will be moved to the left, as viewed in the Fig. l, by the spring 12. to the left the rod BI is also moved to the left to rotate thelever 69 and the ignition timer 25 in a counterclockwise direction, thereby retarding the time of sparking impulse.

While in the drawing, the electromagnetic means 99 is disclosed as having a voltage coil, it is to be understood that the coil may be wound with heavy wire, or series wound, and connected in series with the generator charging circuit so that when the relay 36 closes, the heavy winding will be energized to attract the-armature Ifll to operate the valve. In this case, all or part of the I charging current is used to cause the valve to function.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An electromagnetic valve comprising, 1n combination a flat base, a magnet core perpendicular to the base, a magnet coil surrounding the core, a magnet armature hingedly supported at one side the coil and extending over the core As the diaphragm is moved to the opposite side of the coil, a valve structure attached to the base on said opposite side of the coil and having a valve operating rod extending parallel to the magnet core and adjacent the free end of said armature, a leaf spring attached to the armature, a bendable abutment member against which the spring bears to bias the spring, to urge the armature away from the core, said abutment member being attached between the coil and the head of the core, and a stop member to limit movement of the armature away from the core, the bending of the abutment member varying the amount of magnetic flux necessary to attract the armature to move the Valve memher.

2. An electromagnetic valve comprising, in

' combination a flat base, a magnet core perpendicular to the base, a magnet coil surrounding the core, a magnet armature hingedly supported at one side of the coil and extending over the core to the opposite side of the coil, a valve structure attached to the base on said opposite side of the coil and having a valve operating rod extending parallel to the magnet core and adjacent the free end of said armature, a leaf spring attached to the armature, an abutment member against which the spring bears to bias the spring to urge the armature away from the core, and a bendable stop member to limit movement-of the armature away from the core, said stop member being attached between the coil and head of the core, the bending of said stop member varying the air gap between the armature and core thereby varying the amount of magnetic flux necessary to attract the armature to move the valve member.

3. An electromagnetic valve comprising, in combination a fiat base, a magnet core perpendicular to the base, a magnet coil surrounding the core, a magnet armature hingedly supported at one side ofthe coil and extending over the core to the opposite side of the coil, a valve structure attached to the base on said opposite side of the coil and having a valve operating rod extending parallel to the magnet core and adjacent the free end of said armature,a leaf spring attached to the armature, a bendable abutment member against which the spring bears to bias the spring to urge the armature-away from the core, a bendable stop member to limit movement of the armature away from the core, and a plate having JAMES L. ARTHUR. 

